Box-filling machine.



J. P. WRIGHT. BOX FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 28, 1909.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

J. P. WRIGHT.

BOX FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 28, 1909. 1,014,356.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

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\k! W 1? W Q\ m\ u NA K Q H w 1 I mam Ex m d EN J. P. WRIGHT. BOX FILLING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1909.

14, 5 Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

unrrnn STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

zrnlcio aii WRIGHT, or BARBERTON, oHro, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH 00M- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOX-FILLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Jan. 9,1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB P. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Barberton. in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in box filling machines, having reference to machines for opening, filling and closing the t-ray-and-shuck form of box commonly em ployed for holding matches, such, for ex-" ample, as set out in Letters Patent of the United States N 0. 836,730, dated November 27, 1906.

The present improvement is more particularly directed to the box-carrying chain of the said patented machine, which" chain comprises jointed links of appropriate shape and size provided. with suitably arranged walls or jaws between which closed boxes are deposited and thereby grasped and trans-' ported to and across the path of plunger mechanism by means of which the trays are partially pushed endwise from their shucks into position to receive the matches from a suitable source of supply; the boxes, with their open filled trays, being thereafter transported to plunger devices by means of which the trays are pushed into their shucks.

In the chain structure illustrated in the patent aforesaid, the shuck andtray receiv ing portions of thelinks correspond respectively with the dimensions of the particu lar shucks and trays to be introduced thereto, the inner ends of the bottom and side walls of-each tray receiving portion of the link thus affording for the opposing edge of the proximate shuck a stop or abutment to prevent the inward movement of the shuck when the tray is being pushed endwlse therefrom. Owing to the thickness and inequalities of shuck material, it is necessary that the abutments to subserve their function in the individual links, should be formed withuniformity and precision throughout, and hence, as the chain in its entirety comprises numerous links, it follows that superior care and skill, with attendant expense, are re quired to produce the same.

The primary object of the present lnvention is to simplify the construction of the box-carrying chain; and to this end, I ,pro-

vide in lieu of the integral shoulders of the individual links, an independent abutment member which extends constantly within and longitudinally of the path of the chain in such" manner that as the boxes are transported in respect to the plunger mechanism the inner ends of the box shucks take progressively against the said member and are thereby effectually prevented from being moved transversely of the chain during the 1 opening of the trays by the plungers. In pursuance of my invention I also provide a pressure device which acts upon 'the boxes during their travel and insures their ongagement with the abutment irrespective of inequalities of thickness of the shuck material, all of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a plan of a part of a box-filling machine embodying a good form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, enlarged, ason the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

F ig; 4 is a perspective of several links of the,

box-carrying chain showing the longitudivnally-extending abutment bar therein. Fig.

is a partial transverse section, showing a modification of the abutment device for the ends of the box-shucks while the trays are .being pushed endwise therefrom within the carrier. Fig. 6 is a view of the underside of one of the spring actuated abutment blocks shown in Fig. 5.

. 1 designates a part of the upper traveling portion of the endless carrier by means of which the boxes are transported, which carrier comprises a chain having hingedly connected llnks 2 provided with suitably located walls 3, which constitute in effect jaws. As

the links pass around a sprocket wheel at one end of the machine bed,the jaws of the adjoininglinks are opened or diverged by the, flexing of the: chain, and the closed boxes are pushed laterally from a superposed hopper and dropped down between the jaws. When the links in their traverse assume a horizontal coursetheir jaws grasp the inter.- posed boxes and transport them across the path of a series of horizontally-reciprocating plungers 4, by means of which the box-trays (a) are pushed endwise'almost entirely out of their shucks (by). The plungers are slidingly mounted in guides transversely of an endless chain 5, and are provided at their outer ends with depending studs 6 which I engage a horizontal cam-way 71in a ibar 8 aflixed to the bed; such cam-way bemg apspropri'atejly formed to efi'eot the timely reciprocations of the successive plungers. The

portions of ,thewalls between which the trays are pushed may be made slightly thicker than theportions between which the shucks are held, so as to correspond with the lesser width of the trays in which case the receivin end of the thlcker walls should be bevel e d or reduced in thickness in order to permit the freeand unobstructed entrance there-between of the trays as they arelpushed the fromtheir shu'cks.

In the'floorof the chain groove '--.orchannel 9, which extends longitudinally-ofthe path of the chain, the walls of. the links being cut away vertically'above 4 the-grooveor channel receives lengthwise thereof a stationary horizontal bar 10 the top of which, excepting its rearward edge, is

" on a level with the floor of the links. This rearward edge-is provided with a longitudinal 1i 1-11,; of a height corresponding with the thickness of the bottom of the shuck, or J s an ially So," so as ,to afford a determinate abutment for the latter when the tray is being-pushed outward from the shuckby the plunger, 'Ifhe abutment bar is formed on or secured to a bracket 12 affixed to the cap plate 13; a As herein illustrated, this bar may be conveniently provided by forming the lip 11 upon the straight orplain portion of the longitudinal cam-bar whichjis employed for canting the open tray' in the ma chine of the patent aforesaid.

Io-insnre' the eflicientcontact of the inner ends-of theindividual shucks with the lip of the abutment bar, duringtheirtrayel, I preferably secure to the fixed cap plated?) one edge of aspring plate14 the opposite edge ofwhich is equipped w1th a series of blocks or shoes 15 which-extend through a longitudinal slot in thecap plate and bear yieldingly. upon theboxes carried thereunder by the chain 1. This plate is split or divided transversely for the greater? art of its.

width to afford aseries} of in ependent springmembers each bearinga block whose forward corner is, beveled or rounded, as

at 16,to permit the ready passage thereunder I of the traveling boxes.

In Fi'gs. 5 and 6 isshown a modification of the invention, wherein the lip 11 constitutm the abutment for the shucks, instead of being formed on the cam bar,-i s-provided sive'ly acting plungers.

on the under sides ofthe spring supported bloeksor1s'hoes'15 soeas to depend along the upper inneredges' ofvthe shucks while the trays are being pushed open b'ythe succeslip 18 formed on links is "a medial oov'e or' channel. .When the links are passing the series of tray-ejecting plungers fected between the abutment member and the boxes to insure their inter-engagement irrespective of slight variances in the dimensions of the shucks;

I claim tion'of a box ,carrier for tray-and-shuck boxes, said carrier being provided with a longitudinal groove or channel in the floor thereof, a stationary bar extending into said groove or channel, and having a 11p or prothe, box-shucks.

from, their shucks within and transversely 'ofthe carrier, and a series of independent pressure devices bearing yieldingly upon the therefrom. p

f 3. In a box filling machine, the combinationof a carrier for tray-and-sh'uck boxes, means for pushing. the box-trays endwise of the carrier, a-spring member provided with blocks or shoes which bear upon the box shucks within the carrier, while the trays are being ushed therefrom, "and an abutment extending i to the inner'ends of the said hucks.

' tion of, a carrier'for tray-and-shuok boxes,

from their shncks within and transversely of the carrier, a sprin plate divided to form aseries of indepen ent spring -members which overhang the carrier, ands series of pressure blocks carriedby said members and adapted to bear upon the box-shacks while 'the trays arebeing pushed therefrom.

ay 90 5 Y .JACOB r. wn'ie'nr. Witnesses: 1 4 I B. C. Ross, F. M. ROOT.

. 4. In a box filling machine, the combina- I 110 means for pushing the box-trays endwise? spring feature'a relative adjustment is ef.-,

1. In a box filling machine, the combina- I jeztion above. the plane of the floor-of the ca rier, and aspring'member bearing upon I 2.. In a box filling machine, the combina- 'tion of a carrier for tray-and-shuck boxes, means for pushingv the box-trays endwisebox shucks whilethe trays are being pushed from their shuckswithin and transversely 4 plane of .the

Signed. at Barberton in the county of Summit and State of Ohio this 24th day of 

